'This Is Unacceptable': Newton Teachers Union Plans City Hall Rally

NEWTON, MA — The Newton Teachers Association is planning a City Hall rally on Wednesday morning as part of its ongoing quest to gain public support amid a contract standoff with Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the School Committee.

"We've reached a critical point in contract negotiations," the teachers union said in announcing the rally. "Newton educators have spent the first half of the school year working without a contract.

"This is unacceptable."

The "Be The Change" rally is set for Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. at Newton City Hall.

"We need many people to attend to send a clear message of support for our teachers," the union said.

The rally is the latest in a series of public events the union has held highlighting the impasse.

The union held a press conference in December to promote their request for a new contract that includes pay increases, better paid parental leave, increased mental support for students, and guaranteed time to prepare coursework and collaborate with colleagues.

That event came five days after a "no-confidence vote" in the mayor and School Committee regarding contract negotiations that the NTA said resulted in 99.6 percent of its 1,600 members across all 23 school buildings in favor of the "no-confidence" declaration.

Speakers said at the press conference that the proposed 2 percent pay increase does not come close to keeping up with recent inflation and does not provide a living wage in the city for paras and other support staff.

The union also said that the city's contract proposal includes increased medical costs in the way of higher deductibles and higher co-pays while charging that the city's proposal aims to add to teacher workloads without additional compensation and the elimination of guaranteed preparation time during the school day.